Thursday 3 May, 2018

3 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. 3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

These verses speak of the certainty of the coming of Christ which can be argued from Scripture, from history, from eternity’s view, and fourthly, from the character of God.  This is wonderful news – the day of the Lord will come!

Do you know why there’s the delay?  It’s not because the Lord is slow about His promise.  It’s not because He’s not keeping His promise.  It’s not because He’s unfaithful to His Word.  It’s not because He doesn’t tell the truth, it’s not because He’s impotent, it’s not because He’s indifferent, it’s not because He’s just busy doing something else.

Verse 9 tells us the reason He’s delaying, that is, His patience for people to repent. “The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

God is using His time to express His patience for His grace that people might be saved.  When the last person is saved, He will return and gather His church.  God is long suffering. God is merciful and doesn’t want anyone to perish.

Let us be thankful that God is patient but let us also be impatient for all to know God’s grace through Christ, because we can be certain of the coming of Christ.

Father, thank You for reminding us our hope – of the return of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  We long for that day.  We pray for those we know to turn to Christ so they may also be joined to Him in eternal fellowship. Amen

Written by Meredith O’Neill